Chapter Eighty-Two: Struck Across the Face

Chapter 82: Slapped in the Face!

"That's right, that's right," Ah Ken chimed in. "Women are terrifying when they go crazy."

He paused, sensing something amiss.

"Four women?" Ah Ken counted on his fingers. "Little Su, you must be mistaken. There are only three women."

"Aren't you also one of our good sisters?" Bai Su teased, casting Ah Ken a sidelong glance.

"Hmph." Ah Ken was once again offended. With a darkened expression, he swayed his hips as he paced around the living room. "Is that supposed to be funny? Is it? I don't find this joke amusing at all. It's really annoying."

——

Seeing Ah Ken's sulky and coquettish demeanor, Tang Zhong thought, if anyone dares say he's not a woman, he'll throw a fit.

"Alright, alright. My mistake. Teacher Ah Ken, please forgive me," Bai Su hastily apologized. "I do think you can be quite manly at times."

"Exactly." Ah Ken's expression softened. "Most of the time, I'm very much like a man."

"Yes, yes, you're very much like a man," Bai Su echoed. "Let's hear the story. Tang Zhong, hurry and tell us your story."

Tang Zhong smiled. "It's not much of a story, really. You all know I come from Hengshan Prison—"

"That's what I can't understand," Bai Su interrupted. "Do prisoners in jail really have nothing better to do than dance the robot? Do they hold dance competitions for fun?"

"Of course not." Tang Zhong shook his head, smiling. "But, as the saying goes, prisons are full of talent. Crime is the costliest game there is. Whether it's theft, robbery, white-collar crime, or murder, each requires a different sort of cost. Some need skill, some require courage, others demand intelligence, and some call for a strong heart. Not everyone can stab someone with a knife."

"I was a restless child, so I liked learning all sorts of strange things from them—"

Zhang Hepburn leapt up from the sofa and sat down next to Lin Huiyin, keeping her distance from Tang Zhong and watching him warily. "Are there rapists in prison too?"

"Yes," Tang Zhong replied. "They're the lowest of the low in prison. Almost anyone can bully them. They have no status, and no one wants to associate with them."

"Did you ever learn anything from them?" Zhang Hepburn pressed.

"Benben," Bai Su scolded, worried the question would upset Tang Zhong. "How can you ask something like that? Of course Tang Zhong wouldn't pick up anything like that."

"It's alright," Tang Zhong said with a smile. "I did learn something from one of them."

Whoosh—

This time, even Bai Su and Ah Ken moved far away from Tang Zhong.

Tang Zhong looked helpless.

Bai Su running away, he could understand. But Ah Ken, a grown man, why would you run? What could I possibly do to you?

"I learned about using medicine from him," Tang Zhong said with a smile.

"What kind of medicine?"

"Cold medicine," Tang Zhong replied evasively. "Actually, he was a romantic. He wrote poetry, too. His pen name was Liang Mo, and he published a number of poems in various literary magazines—though he never received any royalties because he never put a return address on his submissions."

"Who taught you to dance?" Bai Su asked.

"A murderer," Tang Zhong answered.

"A murderer?" Bai Su's heart skipped a beat. What kind of monster is this guy? The people he knew were either rapists or murderers—who knows if his psyche is twisted.

"This person, you might actually have a faint memory of," Tang Zhong said with a smile. "Xu Sanjin. Do you remember him?"

"What?" Bai Su was stunned. "Emperor Teacher Xu Sanjin?"

"That's right. Him." Tang Zhong nodded. "When I first met him, he said he was a dance teacher, and that Guo Fengyi, Li Tong, Luo Yuxiang, all those stars were his students. I didn't believe him—"

"And then?" Ah Ken asked excitedly. He never expected to hear inside stories about a celebrity who had made waves in the entertainment industry over a decade ago.

Tang Zhong was revealing secrets.

"He danced for me," Tang Zhong said.

"And then you believed him?"

"No," Tang Zhong replied. "I was only seven at the time. I thought his dancing was nice, but I didn't believe he actually knew those superstars. Still, I started learning to dance with him."

"You learned to dance at seven?" Zhang Hepburn asked.

"Yes," Tang Zhong nodded. "But it wasn't just dancing. I was wild, and anything interesting caught my attention. Dancing was just one of many things I dabbled in. I was inconsistent, though. If I'd known I'd use it today, I would have studied harder."

"You started even before I did," Zhang Hepburn pouted.

"You're already very good," Bai Su said with a laugh. She hadn't expected her casual probing to uncover such a treasure. "Is Xu Sanjin still in Hengshan Prison?"

"He is," Tang Zhong replied, his face clouding. "But he may never get out in this lifetime."

Bai Su and Ah Ken looked saddened, while Zhang Hepburn was confused. "Who's Xu Sanjin? I don't remember him singing or acting."

"He doesn't sing or act. He's known as the Emperor Teacher," Bai Su explained softly. It was a distant memory, unfamiliar to Zhang Hepburn's generation. "He produced three kings and two queens. The three kings are Guo Fengyi, Li Tong, and Luo Yuxiang, like Tang Zhong just mentioned. The queens are Rong Yirong and Zhang Man. You must know them—they're still pillars of the entertainment world. All five are known for their dancing, thanks to Xu Sanjin."

"That amazing?" Zhang Hepburn stuck out her tongue in surprise, as adorable as a puppy panting.

"Benben, 'amazing' doesn't begin to describe him," Ah Ken reminisced. "His dance style was ever-changing, blending East and West. Back when Michael Jackson visited China, he even consulted him about ethnic dance—he was a legend. It's a shame."

"If he's so amazing, why did he end up in prison?" Zhang Hepburn asked, puzzled.

"I only know that he killed his superstar girlfriend, Zhang Aihua. The media speculated endlessly, and the real story was buried. The case was a sensation," Bai Su replied, glancing at Tang Zhong.

She knew their understanding came from the media, but Tang Zhong might know the truth.

"He was a man of deep feelings, but got involved with the wrong woman," Tang Zhong said softly. "Although we weren't formally master and disciple, I learned a lot from him. So I'll leave the details unsaid."

"Stingy," Zhang Hepburn grumbled.

"Fine, we won't press you," Bai Su said understandingly. In fact, Tang Zhong had already given the answer—Zhang Hepburn was the only one who didn't get it.

"Xu Sanjin taught five disciples, and produced five dance kings. I didn't expect Xiao Xinxin to be his sixth," Ah Ken exclaimed, rubbing his hands together. "Xiao Susu, what do you think?"

Bai Su narrowed her eyes at Tang Zhong. "Are you thinking of making him the sixth dance king?"

"Why not?" Ah Ken countered. "Remember, Tang Zhong is a peer to Guo Fengyi and Li Tong. If they knew about him, they'd surely support him."

Bai Su shook her head. "The reason Guo Fengyi and Li Tong became superstars isn't just their dancing. Every album of theirs sparks a trend, but the key is, they can sing too—there's no king who only dances."

"Besides, Tang Zhong is a student. He has no intention of going into showbiz. Still, his dancing will be a huge help for Butterfly. At least we don't have to worry about the anniversary gala in two weeks."

"Xiao Xinxin, why don't you want to enter the entertainment industry?" Ah Ken asked regretfully. "With your looks, a little packaging and you'd be a sensation."

"Everyone has their ambitions," Tang Zhong replied with a smile.

"Alright, let's not force him," Bai Su said, clapping her hands. "Since Tang Zhong can dance so well, we've saved a lot of time. Huiyin, Benben, go change into your practice clothes. Let's head upstairs to the training room and rehearse with Tang Zhong. The more you work together, the better your chemistry on stage."

This was work, so Lin Huiyin and Zhang Hepburn had no objections.

Both returned to their rooms and soon emerged in their martial arts uniforms.

Lin Huiyin wore a black practice outfit, the fitted clothes making her appear even taller and more striking, like a beautiful female assassin.

Zhang Hepburn was a bit shorter and chubbier. She wore a pink-and-white practice suit, cute and adorable. The round-necked top dipped low, revealing a generous expanse of snow-white skin and a deep cleavage in between, stirring the imagination.

Bai Su had mentioned that Zhang Hepburn wasn't yet eighteen, but hadn't expected her figure to be this developed.

Tang Zhong had no practice clothes, so he simply wore white track pants and a T-shirt. The large black-framed glasses were gone, and the yellow medicinal paste had been washed from his face, revealing his true features—delicate and handsome, closely resembling Tang Xin from the videos.

Bai Su carried her laptop upstairs. "Alright. Let's all run through it together first."

She pressed play, and as the music began, Tang Zhong struck a robot pose. Lin Huiyin and Zhang Hepburn stood on either side, moving in sync.

Zhang Hepburn tugged at Tang Zhong's collar. Tang Zhong began to dance.

The three moved as one.

They slipped into the rhythm.

The atmosphere grew more and more electric.

Tang Zhong held Zhang Hepburn in a tango. His hand slid onto Lin Huiyin's backside—

Tang Zhong—Tang Zhong was slapped across the face.

(P.S.: Only two chapters today due to limited energy. Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival—wishing friends happiness and good health! Also, Old Liu will not take a break and will continue updating tomorrow.)